E. coli as an indicator of faecal contamination in the Australian context. The goal of this research is to improve our ability to use Escherichia coli as an indicator of water quality by determining the extent to which non-faecal sources of E. coli contribute to coliform counts and to develop a method to differentiate non-faecal E. coli from those that are faecal derived.
Microbiology of a tropical creek impacted by sewage effluent: novel assessment using N-cycle functional markers and changes in community composition. Although most of Darwin Harbour has good water quality, there is much concern about local 'hot spots' where sewage has degraded ecosystem processes and values. As no bio-indicators of tropical marine water and sediment quality are known, the project will identify functional markers and microbial indicators of stress for integrated environmental mo ....Microbiology of a tropical creek impacted by sewage effluent: novel assessment using N-cycle functional markers and changes in community composition. Although most of Darwin Harbour has good water quality, there is much concern about local 'hot spots' where sewage has degraded ecosystem processes and values. As no bio-indicators of tropical marine water and sediment quality are known, the project will identify functional markers and microbial indicators of stress for integrated environmental monitoring.Read moreRead less
Determinants of substrate preferences and environmental applications of the copper membrane monooxygenases. The project aims to improve sustainability of environmental problems related to methane emissions, nitrogen cycling and pollution. We are developing tools targeting microbial genes correlated to all these issues. Data from these tests provides the information needed for monitoring environmental health and development of sustainable solutions.
Interactions between sulfur, nitrogen, and iron cycles in the sustainable management and use of acid sulfate soils. Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) can cause major land management and environmental problems. It has been proposed that the linkages between the Sulfur, Nitrogen, and Iron biogeochemical cycles deterrmine the environmental and crop production hazards associated with use of ASS. In order to develop best management practices for ASS, it is important to research those linkages and determine th ....Interactions between sulfur, nitrogen, and iron cycles in the sustainable management and use of acid sulfate soils. Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) can cause major land management and environmental problems. It has been proposed that the linkages between the Sulfur, Nitrogen, and Iron biogeochemical cycles deterrmine the environmental and crop production hazards associated with use of ASS. In order to develop best management practices for ASS, it is important to research those linkages and determine their contribution to fluxes of materials exported from these soils. This project will carry out that research and will transfer results to industry partners to improve land management practices and identify appropriate landuses in ASS landcapes.Read moreRead less
Mapping and Modelling the Ocean's Unseen Biodiversity. From the reef to the rainforest, Australia is famous for its unique biodiversity. Less well known is that Australia's coastline is predicted to be a global hotspot for biodiversity in marine microbes, the unseen life forces that maintain ocean health and productivity. This project aims to overcome historical technological and logistical hurdles by using cutting-edge sampling, genetic and modelling tools to provide the first models of microbi ....Mapping and Modelling the Ocean's Unseen Biodiversity. From the reef to the rainforest, Australia is famous for its unique biodiversity. Less well known is that Australia's coastline is predicted to be a global hotspot for biodiversity in marine microbes, the unseen life forces that maintain ocean health and productivity. This project aims to overcome historical technological and logistical hurdles by using cutting-edge sampling, genetic and modelling tools to provide the first models of microbial diversity patterns and organismal range in Australian marine systems. This is expected to be a crucial step for understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape contemporary biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Formation and stabilisation of coastal blue carbon. Blue carbon is organic carbon stored within coastal vegetated ecosystems. This project will examine the composition, formation and dynamics of blue carbon in a range of coastal ecosystems. Combining advanced analytical chemistry with environmental microbiology, we will discover how blue carbon is stabilised and destabilised, a critical factor in nature-based climate change mitigation strategies. Further, we will gain a quantitative understandin ....Formation and stabilisation of coastal blue carbon. Blue carbon is organic carbon stored within coastal vegetated ecosystems. This project will examine the composition, formation and dynamics of blue carbon in a range of coastal ecosystems. Combining advanced analytical chemistry with environmental microbiology, we will discover how blue carbon is stabilised and destabilised, a critical factor in nature-based climate change mitigation strategies. Further, we will gain a quantitative understanding of blue carbon contributions to carbon cycling, providing enhanced modeling and prediction of climate-cycle feedbacks in response to biotic and environmental change. This research will significantly benefit Australia’s effective management of coastal vegetated ecosystems for maximum carbon offsets.Read moreRead less